Moyes had described the start as the club's "hardest for 20 years", telling reporters: "I hope it's not because Manchester United won the league quite comfortably last year that the fixtures have been made much more difficult.

"I find it hard to believe that's the way the balls came out of the bag, that's for sure."

United start at Swansea City on Saturday and the Premier League has moved quickly to reassure Moyes over the selection process.

A competition spokesman said: "David has put those concerns to us. We have absolutely assured him the process is random and above board. He has accepted those assurances."

Last year's runners-up, Manchester City, face Newcastle first before playing newly promoted Cardiff and Hull City in Manuel Pellegrini's first campaign in English football.